Fruit pulping machine



Dec. 29a 1931. HI HURST FRUIT PULPING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1930 mr S MR; U 0 NH 7 W WH w .D A H H Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application led June 7, 1930. Serial No. 459,787.

My invention relates to im rovements in a fruit pulping machine Wherem a slidable andy rotatable s mdle is movable to penetrate one side of a plece of fruit and is provided with a member expandible within the body of the fruit to disintegrate the pulp of the fruit within the rind of the fruit and without displacing said pulp from the rind.

The primary object of my invention is to lo provide an improved fruit pulping machine.

Another object is to provide an improved machine wherein the pulp of citrus frults and the like may be disintegrated within the rind of the fruit to liberate the juices and to reduce the fibrous body to pulp without displacing the same from the rind.

A further object is to provide an improved machine to disintegrate the pulp of citrus fruit whereby the juices may be consumed directly from the rind.

Another object is to provide an improved machine of the character described wherein pulping means is inserted through one side of a piece of fruit and operated to disintegrate the pulp without piercing or severing the rind at points other than the point of entry.

A further object is to provide an improved pulping machine Iwhich will faciltate the preparation of citrus fruits and the like for consumption.

Another object is to provide an improved machine of the character described which is simple and efficient in construction and operation.

A still further object is to provide an improved machine embodying improved features of construction and arrangement producing a compact, attractive, and efficient mechanism. A

I accomplish these and other objects by means of thevimproved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application wherein like characters of reference 45 are used to designate similar parts throughwith a piercing point 8. An expandible mem- 7 V,erably consisting of a out the specification and drawings, and in which:

1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical sflelctlon, of my'improved fruit pulping mac 1ne- Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation, partly j in vertical section o'' the pulping spindle, the

figure being drawn upon a larger scale; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken u on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 in the direction in icated. 55 Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate in general a supporting base provided with a fruit receivin cup 2 and a vertically disposed standar 3. A suitable electric motor 4 is mounted at the top of the standard 3, the motor being mounted in axial alinement with the center of the cup 2. A spindle 5 is mounted in connection with the shaft 6 of the motor 4. In the preferred construction illustrated in the drawings, the spindle 5 is feathered into the shaft 6, said shaft 6 being of hollow form to receive the spindle. The spindle 5 extends axially through-the motor 4 and is provided at its upper end with a collar 7 movable to engage the upper end of the shaft 6 or the motor housing to limit the downward movement of' the spindle through the motor.

. The lower end of the spindle 5 is provided ber 9 is mounted in connection with the lower portion of the spindle, said member 9 prefspring metal loop threaded through a slot 11 formed in the lower end of the spindle 5 immediately above 50 the point 8, and having its sides normally extending upwardly in proximate relation to the sides of the spindle. The spring loop member 9 is so formed that the natural spring tension operates to hold the side portions of thl loop firml against the spindle, said side portions pre erably being received lwithin longitudinal groves 12 formed in the sides 'of the spindle so that the outer surfaces of the loop will normally rest substantially Hush with the surface of the spindle. The point 8 is preferably attached upon the end of the spin le shank by means of a threaded extension 13 operative to secure the point and the lower end of the loop to the spindle.

A sleeve 14 is slidably mounted upon the spindle 5 adjacent the upper ends of the loop member 9, the ends of said loop member 9 being pivotally connected to the lower end of the sleeve 14 by suitable pivot pins 16. The upper end of the sleeve 14 has an annular groove 17 formed therein to receive a collar 18 rotatably mounted thereon. The lower end of the sleeve 14 is chamfered as at 19 to facilitate entry into a piece of fruit, as hereinafter more fully described.

A lever 21 is pivotally mounted as at 22 upon the standard 3. The lever 21 is provided with a bifurcated portion 28 having slots 24 formed therein to engage pins 25 extending outwardly from opposite sides of the collar 18 whereby a pivotal movement of the lever 21 will impart an axial sliding movement to the sleeve 14. A spring 26 is connected at one end to the lever 21 and at the opposite end to the standard 3 to normally move the lever 21 to a raised position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the lever being movable downwardly against the tension of the spring 26 to operative positions as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In operation, a piece of fruit 27, such as an orange or other citrus fruit, is placed in the receiving cup 2, preferably with the stem end upwardly disposed. The lever 21 is then moved downwardly from the normal position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1 to move the sleeve 14 downwardly, the pressure imposed upon the sleeve being imparted through the side portions of the loop 9 to the spindle 5, thereby moving the spindle downwardly, the spindle being rotated rapidly by the motor 4. As the point 8 is moved against the upper end of the piece of fruit 27, the point bores through the rind and penetrates into the fruit, further movement o the lever causing the spindle to extend substantially diametrically through the fruit to a point adjacent the bottom side of the fruit. The downward movement of the spindle 5 is limited by the collar 7 engaging the upper end of the motor housing so that in the lowermost position the point 8 will be positioned just short of the lower portion of the rind, thereby preventing the point from piercing the rind at the bottom of the piece of fruit.

As the spindle 5 reaches its lowermost position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1v the lever 21 will occupy a position such as indicated in the upper dotted position in said figure. A further downward movement of the lever 21 to a positon such as indicated in the lower dotted position in Fig. 1 operates to press the sleeve 14 downwardly along the spindle. This further downward movement of the sleeve causes the sides of the loop member 9 to be expanded to outwardly bowed positions such as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and at the same time the lowered chamfered edge of the sleeve 14 is pressed into the opening formed by the spin- Y dle in the upper surface of the piece of fruit.

The spindle 5 and loop 9 are rotated continuously while the motor 4 is in operation. During the initial movement downwardly into the fruit, the spindle forms a straight bore into the pulp of the fruit, the loop 9 remaining seated within the grooves 12. When pressure is applied to expand the loop, the rotation of the loop causes the pulp of the fruit to be torn apart, thereby liberating the juices and reducing the fibrous material to a pulp. As the sides of the loop are gradually extended to their extreme extended position, the entire bod of the fruit will b e disintegrated and re uced to a juicy pulp within the rind, and without displaclng the juice or pulp from the rind.

When the lever' 21 is released, the spring 26 operates to return it to normal raised positlon, thereby raising the sleeve and returning the loop 9 and spindle 5 to normal raised position. The piece of fruit is then lifted from the cup and the juice and pulp consumed directly from the rind, either by inserting the ordinary straw or drinking tube into the opening formed by the spindle, or by drinking or sucking the juice and pulp directly from the rind.

While I have illustrated and described only one embodiment of my invention, the preferred construction and arrangement disclosed is subject to modification in numerous ways without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be restricted to the specific details of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what f I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fruit pulpinrr machine comprising a supporting standard-i; a power driven spindle mounted upon the standard; means for moving the spindle axially into a piece of fruit; and a sprin loop mounted upon the spindle and norma ly held in proximate relation to the sides of the spindle, said loop being expandible within the' body of the piece of fruit when the spindle is moved to its extreme position therein and being rotated by said spindle to disintegrate the pulp of the fruit.

2. A fruit pulping machine comprising a power driven spindle; means for moving the spindle axially into a piece of fruit from one end of said fruit; means for limiting` the movement of the spindle to prevent punc- Ato disintegrate the turin the opposite side of the fruit; anexpandile member mounted upon the spindle and normall held in proximate relation to the spindle or movement therewith into the piece of fruit; and means for ex andmg the expandible member within the ody o. the fruit, said member being rotatable w1th1n he spindle to disintegrate the pulp of the ruit. t

3. A fruit pulpin machine comprising a supporting standar a rotatable spindle mounted upon'the standard; a sprino loop mounted upon the s indle and normally extending longitudina ly in proximate relation to the sides thereof; means for moving the spindle axially to penetrate one side of a plece of fruit and to extend substantially diametrically therethrough to a point a jacent the opposite side thereof; and means for expanding the loop within the bod of the fruit, said loop being rotated within t e fruit pulp without displacing saidpul from the rind.

4. A ruit pul in machine comprising a supporting stan ar a spindle slidabl and rotatably mounted upon the standar expandible means mounted upon the spindle and normally dis osed in roximate relation to the sides o the spindle; means upon the standard forlrotating the spindle means for movin the spindle axially to penetrate one side cfg a piece of fruit and to extend substantially diametrically therethrough to a point adjacent the opposite side-thereof, the ex andible means being spread within the body of the fruit and rotated therein by the spindle to disintegrate the pulp of the fruit Without displacing the same from the rind.

5. A fruit pulpm machine comprisin a slidable and rotata le spindle; expandi le means mounted upon the spindle and normally dis osed in proximate relation to the sides of tlie spindle; means for moving the spindle axially to penetrate one side of a piece of fruit and to extend substantially diametrically through the fruit to a point adjacent the op osite side thereof; means for limiting the sli ing movement of the spindle to prevent the spindle from penetrating the oppositeside of the rind of the fruit; and means slidably movable along the spindle when moved to its ext-reme penetrating osition to spread the expandible means wlthin the body of the fruit, said means being rotated by the spindle to disintegrate the pulp of the fruit without displacing the' sam(- from the rind.

6. A fruit pulping machinecomprising a slidable and rotatable spindle; a spring loop mounted upon the spindle and normally disposed in proximate relation to the sides of the spindle; means for moving the spindle axially to penetrate one side of a piece of fruit and to extend substantially diametrically through the fruit to a point adjacent the opposite side thereof; means for limiting the axial movement of the spindle to prevent the i spindle from piercin the rind uponthe opposite side of the frult; and a collar slidably mounted upon the spindle and engaged by the spindle actuating means for expanding the spring loop within the fruit when the spindle reaches its extreme penetrating position, said loop being rotated by the spindle to disintegrate the pulp of the fruit Without displacing said pulp from the rind. e

7. A fruit pulping machine comprising a supporting standard; a notor mounted upon the standard; a spindle mounted u on the shaft of the motor for rotation there y, said shaft being slidably movable axially relative to the motor; an expandible member mounted `uponthe spindle and normally disposed i-n proxima-te relation to the sides of the spindle; a lever pivotally mounted upon the standard and having connectin means engagin the spindle for moving t e spindle axial y to penetrate one side of a piece of fruit and to extend substantially diametrically through the fruit to a point adjacent the opposite side thereof, said connecting means engaging the expandible member and moving the same to expanded position within the body of the fruit when the spindle is moved to its extreme penetrating position to disintegrate the pulp of the fruit without displacing the same from the rind.

8. A fruit pulping machine comprising a `base provided with afruit supporting. cup and a vertically disposed standard; a motor mounted upon the standard in axial alinement with the cup; shaft of the motor for rotation thereby, said spindle being slidably movable axially relative to the motor; means for moving the spindle axially to penetrate one side'of a piece of fruit supported in the cup and to extend substantially diametrically therethrough to a point adjacent the opposite side thereof, the movement being limited to prevent said spindle from piercing said opposite side; an expandible loop normally dis osed in proximate relation to the sides of t e spindle, said loop being engaged and moved to extended position by the spindle moving means when the spindle is moved to its extreme penetrating position whereby rotation of the expanded member operates to disintegrate the pulp of the fruit without displacing the same from the rind.

9.- A fruit base provided with a fruit supporting cup and a vertically disposed standard; a motor mounted upon the standard in axial alinement with the cup; a spindle feathered to the shaft of the motor, and having a pointed end movable to penetrate one side of a piece of fruit supported in the cup; a spring metal loop. mounted upon the spindle, said loop passing through the spindle adjacent the a spindle connected to the A losmounted upon the spindle and pulping machine comprising a v pointed end, and the sides of said loop normally being disposed in proximate re ation to the sides of the spindle; a sleeve mounted upon the spindle and engaging the loo a 5 collar rotatably engaging the sleeve; an an actuatin lever pivotally mounted upon the standar and engaging the collar to move the spindle axially to penetrate the fruit and to expand the loop within the body of the fruit,

I rotation of the expanded loop operating to disintegrate the pulp of the fruit without displaclng the same from the rind.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my signature.

15' HARVEY HURST. 

